Elevated frame-work and support for electric wires and street-railways



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. W. BROWN. ELEVATED FRAME WORK AND SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES ANDSTREET RAILWAYS.

No. 390,001. Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

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v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L. W. BROWN.

ELEVATED FRAME WORK AND SUPPORT PORELECTRIG WIRES AND STREET RAILWAYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINUS \V. BROiVN, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

ELEVATED FRAME-WORK AND SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES AND STREET-RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,001, datedSeptember 25, 1888.

Application filed January 21, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINUS W. BROWN, of New Orleans, in the parish ofOrleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and ImprovedElevated Frame-Work and Support for Electric Wires and Street- Railways,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an elevated support and frame-workforstreet-railways and electric wires, and has for its objects to avoidlaying tracks in t-he'streets and to dispense with the use of poles forsupporting the electric wires. The structure would also form an elevatedgallery or platform, from which suitable fire escapes, ladders, andhose-connections could be attached, to use in case of fire.

The invention consists in devices for the purposes above referred to,constructed and arranged as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is an end view illustrating this invention, and Fig. 2 is aside view of a section thereof.

In carrying out this invention iron cross beams or girders 1 areattached to and sup ported by upright iron posts or columns 2, saidposts 2 resting on a suitable foundation at the curb of sidewall; 3, oneon each side of street. These posts 2 are inclined toward each other attop,t o form a steady support,and are provided with the angled braces 1,to brace and strengthen their connection with the iron cross-beam 1.

Resting on top and secured to the crossbeam 1 are two upright posts orcoiumns, 11, which receive and support the cables 10 and the cross-arms12, to which are attached the electric wires 15 by the projections 14.These posts 11 are further braced by the diagonal rods or braces 13, asshown in Fig. 1. These frames,composed of the cross-piece 1, posts 2,braces 4, and posts 10, braced as shown, are placed, as above described,at any desired distance apart say seventy-five or one hundred feetandare connected by the cables 10, rest ing on and secured to posts 11., asshown in Fig. 2. The posts 11 form the connection and Serial No.261,499. (No model.)

bearing for cross-arms 12, carrying the elec tric wires, and also thesupport for the cables 10, which cables support and sustain the track onwhich cars are suspended, as shown.

At suitable distances between the frames above described, and suspendedfrom the cables 10 by iron rods or wires 9, are placed iron cross-beams6. To the under side of the cross-beams 6 and 1 are placed and securedthe side blocking-pieces, 7, secured by braces 8, and the centerblocking piece, 16, receiving the longitudinal girders 5 and 18 andrailwayrails 19, as shown in Fig. 1. This railwayrail 19 may be formedor shaped so as to constitute the girder and rail combined. Theblocking-pieces 7 and 16 are of sufficient length to allow theproper-sized car-wheel 20 to roll on track 19 and to pass under thecross beams 1 and 6, as shown. The cars 22 are suspended by the trussedframe 21 from the axles of the trucks placed on the rails 19, as shown.The trucks are kept in position by the flanged wheels 20. The cars arethus suspended from the wheels 20, rolling on track 19, and extend towithin ashort distance from the ground, and are hauled along by eithertraction, cable, electricity, or motors. The frame-work supporting thetrack may be con structed by placing the bents orsupports closer andhaving a rigid girder connection, dispensing with the cables. The cablesystem, as above described,is preferable on account of its offering lessobstruction to passage of light.

By means of the foregoing description it will be seen that any number ofelectric wires may be supported by a frame-work which does not obstructthe streets, and which also serves as a means whereby street-cars may bemoved through the streets by traction, cable, electricity, or othersuitable propelling-power, and Without putting down surface rails orobstructing the surface of the street. The ar rangement and constructionof the structure are such that it will be strong, durable, and light,and will take up the least possible room and offer the least possibleobstruction to the passage of light.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a combined elevated structure for street-carsand support for electric wires, a

frame work consisting of uprights and cross beams, on which are mountedposts provided with cross-arms having electrical wire-connections, thesupports, cross-arms, and vertical posts being connected by longitudinalcables having crossbeams suspended therefrom, provided with hangers orblocking-pieces, on which are mounted longitudinal girders provided withrailroad-rails, in combination with traveling trucks mounted on wheelscarrying trussed frames supporting street-cars adjacent to the surfaceof the street, substantially as described.

2. In an elevated structure for supporting electric wires andstreet-cars, the combination, with cross-beams mounted on posts orsupports, the cross beams supporting vertical posts connected by crossarms supporting electric wires, of longitudinal cables suspended fromthe vertical posts, and crossbeams suspended from the longitudinalcables, having hangers or blocking-pieces supporting longitudinalgirders, the hangers and longitudinal girders supportingrailroad-rails,substantially as described.

3. In an elevated structure and electricwire support, the combination,with supports 2, having cross-beams 1, angle-braces 4, and supportingvertical posts 11, connected by means of braces 13 and cross arms 12,having projections 14, to which are secured electric wires 15, cables10, mounted on the posts 11 and having hangers 9, on which are suspendedcross-beamsG, having braced hangers or blocking-pieces 7, longitudinalgirders 5, with rails 19, and longitudinal girders 18, withrailroadrails 19, of the trussed frames 21, with cars 22,

mounted on wheels 20, resting on the rails 19, substantially asdescribed.

4. In an elevated structure for supporting electric wires andstreet-cars in suspended position, the combination, with the uprights 2and cross-beams 1, having angle-braces 4, and vertical posts 11,connected by means of braces 13 and cross-arms 12, having projections14, to which are secured electric wires 15, of cables 10, mounted on thevertical posts 11, and cross-beams 6, suspended from the cables 10, andhaving braced hangers or blockingpieces 7, provided with longitudinalgirders 5 and 18, supporting rails .19.

5. In an elevated structure, as herein described, the combination, withsupports 2, braces 4, cross-beams 1, and continuous longitudinal girders5 and 18, supporting longitudinal rails 19,0fbraeed supports11,cables10,and cross-beams 6, suspended therefrom, having hangers 7 and 16,supporting longitudinal bars 5 and 18 and rails 19, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an elevated structure, as herein described, supports, braces, andcross beams connected together, substantially as described, andsupporting a frame-work for electrical wires, in combination withlongitudinal suspension-cables mounted on said frame-work, and havingcross-beams suspended therefrom, supporting a frame and rails forsuspended railway-cars, substantially as described.

LINUS W. BROWN.

Witnesses:

F. S. VVALsHE, L. A. DE BLANO.

